In this issue…
During the past two years, as Covid-19 has dominated our lives, renewed attention has been paid to pandemics of the past, and in particular the Black Death. In this month’s cover feature, historian Monica H Green draws on the latest scientific research to seek to explain when and how the disease originated and what enabled the plague to spread so far, with such devastating effects. Also check out our new Black Death podcast series, which is currently being released weekly on historyextra.com and all the leading podcast platforms.
Another major news story of the 2020s has been the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US troops last year. It’s only the latest chapter in a series of conflicts in the region that stretch back many decades and involve multiple forces and international players. In this issue we’re revisiting a pivotal episode in these wars: the 1979 Soviet invasion of the country. Though it’s often viewed through the prism of the Cold War, Elisabeth Leake argues that we need to consider how this conflict fits into broader strands of Afghan history.
It’s not all doom and gloom this month, though. With the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations nearly upon us, we asked Tracy Borman to head back into royal history and describe how previous British monarchs have celebrated their major milestones.
Rob Attar, Editor
Three things I’ve learned this month
1. Linear B on Radio 3
One fascinating fact from David Hendy’s BBC series is that the discovery of how to translate the ancient Minoan script known as Linear B was first announced live on the Third Programme in 1952.
2. An unlikely assassin
There have been many royal assassination attempts over the centuries, but the story of Margaret Nicholson, who planned to murder George III with a dessert knife, was definitely new to me.
3. Top of the class
I expect few schoolboys can claim an achievement as impressive as Robert G Heft, who came up with the design for the current flag of the USA as part of a school project. It was officially introduced in 1960.